The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1887-11-24

Agricultural Depression Exist? The
answer is emphatie-it exists, is wide
spread, deep, and long-contlnued: 1t
is a case of 1anguishing and pining
sickness-a sort Of typhoid case.
Witness the opinions OF leading
statesmen and close observers IN every
State, the opinions of leading farmers,
the still stronger opinions of less sue:
cessful farmers, the strong opinion OF
the preliminary conference, the call OF
this Interstate Convention Of Farm
ers. Witness. also he,occasional 60
ing under, after long strugglings, Of
old farmers. still seen from time to
time-the fact that good farmers are
just above water (the righteous scarce
ly saved, and witness; also, the opin-
ions of intelligent merchants and
bankers who deal with the farmers.
Hear the cry, also, Of those who are
told to keep out of debt, and who
answer, "Tell us how to get out
we must get out before we can keep
out" The rate of increase in wealth
would furnish additional light. In
agricultural land: 1857 to 1860 three
years, at SS,250,OO DOC a year, S25,000,-
600, 1871 to 1886, fifteen years, at
$666,666 a year, $50, 900, 900. Gold
value counter-balanced partly by i'm
proved returns and by the Jevons
principle of estimating value. .
We perhaps ought to show what
the true standard of prosperity is, as
shown in our own early history, and
in the condition Of States and peoples
still prospecting. The agricultural
interests, however, Of the whole
country languish in comparison with
certain other interests. We have a
common cause, yet no enemies, and
wish to explain, not to complain. We
conclude, therefore, with the profound
conviction that the agricultural in
terests of the South are languishing
and depressed to a distressing degree,
and that the chief interests of the
South-that of nearly two-thirds of it's
people-are therefore suffering now,
have been suffering for twenty years,
and that the outlook is not favorable.
Before entering upon the discussion
of the causes and remedies of the agri-
cultural depression, let us briefly re-
view some pertinent facts of history:
HALF FORGOTTEN HISTORY
Few remember how the South once
took the lead in population and wealth
The order of States (the eight leading
States) at the first census in 1890 was:
Virginia, TAI, 900; Pennsylvania, 1884,
900; North Carolina, 1874, 900; Massa-
chusetts, 379, 900; New York, $40. 900;
Maryland, 800 900; South Carolina,
$50, 900; Connecticut, 23S, 900. The
four leading Southern States had
ILL., 900 people, the four leading
Northern States 1891, 600.
Second census, 1900; Virginia,
Pennsylvania, New York, North Caro-
lima, Massachusetts,, South Carolina,
Maryland, Connecticut.
Third census, 1910: Virginia, New
York, Pennsylvania, North Carolina,
Massachusetts,, South Carolina, Ken
lucky, Maryland.
Fourth census, 1920: New York,
Virginia, Pennsylvania, North Caro-
lima, Ohio, Kentucky, Massachusetts,,
South Carolina.
Virginia held the first place till
1920. North Carolina the third or
fourth till 1890. In 1910 the three
leading States were the same as now:
New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio. In
1850, Virginia alone of the Southern
list of 1890 remained, now in 1880
not one remains. When immigration
began on a large scale the South was
rapidly left behind in the race. Since
1910 there have been 10, 600, 900 of
immigrants, of which the South re-
ceived very few. By the. census Of
1880, of Georgia, for example, the
foreign-born population Of the State is
not t~hree-fourths of one per cent.
THE NEGRO.
l,t This is too big a subjective can
only hint and suggest. It is not his
fault that the negro is here. He did
not ask to come. Coming by force he
has behaved wonderfully we'll, before,
during and since the war. But the
negro is the most wonderfully expen-
f-sives experiment the world has ever
fseen. Better would the first slave
ship have imported war; pestilence
andsfamine combined, than of slaves.
The climate brought and concentrated
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